Liverpool star Mohamed Salah received the 2021 Golden Foot award and the former Roma and Fiorentina winger admitted playing in Serie A ‘helped me get to where I am now’.
The Reds attacked has won the Champions League and the Premier League since his move from Roma in 2017.
Salah arrived in Italy from Chelsea, when he first spent six months on loan at Fiorentina, before joining Roma in August 2015.
The Egypt international recalled his years in Serie A and claimed his time in Italy was the ‘needed’ change to help him grow as a player.
“Coming to play in Serie A helped me a lot,” Salah told Sky Sport Italia. “I have wonderful memories both in Rome and in Florence, where I received a lot of affection.”
“When I was at Chelsea, I had to change the type of football and culture, and I felt that I needed to change my way of playing.
“So, I went to Italy and played well: that period was a great help to get to where I am now.”
The 29-year-old also wanted to greet his former fans at Fiorentina and Rome.
“I want to greet both the Roma and the Fiorentina fans,” he added. “I spent fantastic moments there, in which I always felt the love of the people. I can only thank them.
“I have wonderful memories of the years that have helped me grow both as a person and as a player. Maybe we’ll meet again.”
7th best player in the world? What a joke the Balloon d’Or is.